FFS: Redskins now look to 2005

[bubba9497]

Redskins now look to 2005

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2004/122004/12272004/1617493

FITTING, WASN'T IT, that the Washington Redskins suffered another close defeat, another loss to Dallas and a field goal try that landed short?

Those details pretty much sum up a frustrating, disappointing season that was kept on life support only through the collective ineptitude of the rest of the NFC. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been if Jeff Chandler's last-second 57-yard attempt had hit the crossbar instead of landing several yards short.

Truth be told, the Cowboys did Washington a favor with yesterday's improbable 13-10 win that evoked the ghost of Clint Longley. Had the Redskins beaten another painfully mediocre team, they might have sustained their ludicrous playoff hopes and deluded themselves about their relative strength.

Instead, Joe Gibbs is left with the clear reality of his first 10-loss season as a head coach--and, hopefully, a clearer sense of what needs to be done.

Gibbs already named Patrick Ramsey as his starting quarterback for next season, a thoroughly sensible move that should defuse any off-season controversy. It was a no-brainer, given Mark Brunell's albatross of a contract and his sustained lack of performance.

The only question at that position is, do the Redskins cut their losses with Brunell and suffer a major salary-cap hit or retain him as a well-paid backup? As long as Brunell doesn't retire or make waves (and he has no right to complain), Gibbs may as well keep him.

The more pressing issues lie with the Redskins' talented young players from Miami, Clinton Portis and Sean Taylor, and their lack of a vertical passing game.

Portis left yesterday's game with a bruised shoulder, virtually ending his chances of a third straight 1,500-yard season. It's just as well, because that plateau might have implied that he was an effective runner this season.

Really, he wasn't. Sure, he had his moments, like his 64-yard scoring dash on his first touch of the season. And yes, the Redskins were 5-0 when he gained 100 yards.

But Portis and Gibbs' plan never really seemed to mesh. Gibbs built his dynasty on workhorse, between-the-tackles runners. He needs to spend the off-season figuring out how to better use Portis' slashing style. (The expected return of Jon Jansen should help.)

Part of Portis' problem was that the Redskins never had a deep receiving threat all year. Brunell couldn't get the ball downfield, and Gibbs didn't trust Ramsey to throw long. Washington's passing offense largely consisted of screens to Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner and seam patterns to promising rookie Chris Cooley.

Ramsey has the arm to stretch the field. But if Gibbs can't find a way to make defenses respect the deep ball next year, Portis again will be nothing better than an average runner.

Lastly, there's Taylor, who appropriately capped off a tumultuous rookie season with a horrible misread on Dallas' winning touchdown pass yesterday. It spoiled another strong defensive effort by the Redskins that wasn't quite good enough.

For every highlight-reel play Taylor made this fall, there was at least one gaffe. Granted, he is young, and Gregg Williams' defense isn't exactly drawn up in the dirt.

Still, the Redskins must expect consistency along with the spectacular from Taylor in 2005. Great NFL defenders don't get by on brilliant physical ability alone.

Taylor seems to be a bright, sincere young man who wants to be a great player. He needs to honestly review his myriad struggles on and off the field this year and decide whether or not he wants to be a star.

He needs a mentor, and there's no better than LaVar Arrington, who has endured five seasons of brilliance mixed with disappointment. Arrington wasn't around much this fall to help Taylor. A year's experience (and the perspective of a veteran) should make Taylor better next fall.

That goes for the entire Redskins team. For most of the fall, they were tantalizingly close to being competitive, but not good enough to beat quality opponents.

They can't spend much on free agency this winter. But assuming no major injuries or free-agent defections, they should be improved next year--through maturity, the return of Jansen and Arrington and a year's familiarity between Gibbs and his players.

Still, there's lots more work to be done. A 5-10 record makes that painfully clear.

To reach STEVE DeSHAZO: 540/374-5443 sdeshazo@freelancestar.com

[mookie0720]

FWIW Portis has gained more yards this year than any other back in Gibbs' system and has an equal YPC this year as the "prototypical" Joe Gibbs back, John Riggins had for his career.